Electric heater for semi-diesel engines



W. J. WOODCOCK.

ELECTRIC HEATER FOR SEMI-DIESEL ENG|NES.. APPLICATION FILED JAN-3,1918.

1 35 5 2 Patented Oct, 26, 1920 Eff/i507? MM WWW! QY'WI F the cylinder head is heated by a torch of WILLARD JAY WOODCGCK; BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC HEATER F 3. SEMI-DIESEL ENGINES. I

eas es.

provements in Electric Heaters for Semi- Dlesel Engines, of which the following a specification.

My invention relates to a heater for semi Diesel engines by application of electric current.

By methods now in use, a bulb secured to some kind and this takes considerable time in actual practice. Or, a plate within the combustion chamber is heated in a similar manner. In the first instance the bulb, fills up with carbon and cracks, and in the lat ter case the plate burns out from the heat of combustion. The object of my invention is to eliminate the oil or gas torch and provide means to obtain a hot surface in the combustion chamber very quickly. The methods of obtaining these results are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows an elevation of a complete semi-Diesel engine with the cylinder head in cross section and a member electri cally heated.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a complete semi-Diesel engine with the cylinder and head in cross section.

Reference being made to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows a semi-Diesel engine so completely that only reference to my improvements are necessary. is a pipe or member, such as cast iron or nickel steel, cutting through the walls of the cylinder head B. The ends of the pipe A secured and sealed by the flanges D and D. The suction air enters the cylinder E, Fig. 2, through the 'port F and is compressed in the chamber G. The scavenging air enters the cylinder E through the port 0 and all the products of combustion are swept out unobstructed through the exhaust port H.

Reference again being made to Fig; 1, the engine is heated as follows:

An electric terminal I of suitable material, which in this instance I choose to be a rod of carbon, is brought in contact with the interior of the pipe A, which also forms an electric terminal of opposite polarityand which may be insulated from the cylinder head B or grounded to it as may be desuch as a storage battery or generator not shown through a sliding switch J, which 1s set at an angle to the pipe A, so that when s m t men Patented 0ct.26,1920. Application filed. January 3, 1918. Serial No. 210,192. r J

the lever K of the switch is moved forward I the terminals'come in contact at L, which is about midway of the pipe A, which becomesheated at this place, and which is di-. rectly under and facingthe oil fuel'injection nozzle M, which sprays the oil on this heated 'surface'as it is supplied by the fuel pump Nat the proper time. The heat caused by the passing of the electric current at L may be due to electrical resistance',-of the terminals, or the lever K of the switch may be drawn back sufficientlyto cause an electric arc and the pipe A will be heated, quickly so that the engine can be started immediately. The lever K may be moved to break: the circuit as soon asthe pipe A- is hot at the point L, provided the heat of combustion supplies the necessary heat while the engine is in operation. As the pipe A passes entirely through the cylinder head, its inner surface is visible and exposed to the air which prevents it from burning'out and also carries heatout of the p combustion chamber. f 1 I do not limit myself to shown, for heating the firing surface, which in. this case is the pipe A, and which is shown as part of the-electric circuit. coil or other device within the pipe or other. chamber which is not a part of the electric circuit, and arranged so it is open to the atmosphere, may accomplish thesame purpose and remain in continuous service as long as desirable. V I v a I do not limit myself to the device as shown in utilizing an electric are for the the device as 7 purpose of heating the firing surface, which is is inthis case the pipe A and which is V shown as part of the electric circuit; The

electric terminals may consist of two or w more'carbon terminals, in which case the pipe A is' not in the electric circuit, and

the devicemay be differently located than shown for thepurpos'e of heating a vaporizin or firin surface, andma accom lish the same purpose, and remain in service as.

long as desirable.

. Having thus described my invention,what

I claim as new is'- 1. In an internal combustion engine, a'

combustion chamber, a member in the com:

bustion chamber provided with an ignition surface electric resistance means exterior to said combustion chamber but contacting with said member to heat the ignition surface. 7 V

2. In an internal combustion engine, means for producing an electric arc or arcs adjacent to but exterior to the combustion chamber, for the purpose of producing an ignition surface in said combustion cham- 3. In an internal combustion engine, a

combustion chamber, a member in said combustion chamber provided with an ignition a removable electrlc resistance 15 

